Tips for an old car

Richard53

You would have to drain all the oil, I would think. Most cars and bikes, anyway.

The main reason for giving an engine a good long run every so often (amongst many others) is to get the oil good and hot and drive off any moisture and condensation inside the engine. If this is done regularly (and oil change intervals observed), a modern engine should look as new inside after 100k miles.

System

you should do a full oil change when you are doing the filter anyway, it doesn't matter what level it is when it gets emptied

Chickabiddybex

Well I'm assuming the hole in the exhaust is due to rust and in turn due to being only driven short distance. Also when I open up the oil cap there is gooey yellow stuff at the top. I assume this is also a by-product of short journeys however I can't be sure it isn't caused by something else until I've had it a while or had it looked at professionally.

No idea why the oil leaks though. I assume a hole, don't know the cause. Rust? I'm having it looked at professionally tomorrow or Thursday so with a bit of luck they'll be able to tell me exactly what the dealio is and stick on a plaster :P

I got the highest possible breakdown coverage I could (with AXA) so it isn't the end of the world if I break down far away from home. I just don't want to plan a trip somewhere and have my day ruined due to a break down.

I'm just paranoid because this is my first car and I'm still learning.
I'm going on a half hour journey down the motorway on Saturday and I'm just worried it won't make it. I'm pretty scared about the prospect of breaking down on the motorway! So dangerous.

Joe_Horner

Chickabiddybex wrote: »

Hi guys, I have a 1998 Fiesta 1.3[...]

[...] I have spoken to someone who is very good with cars and he has advised me not to take it on long journeys. He suggested not taking it further than 10 miles or half an hour in one go.

To put that bit in perspective, we have old cars. A 1966 Daf 32, a 1969 Triumph 1300, a 1972 Daf 33 and a 1974 Daf 66. The 66 is the newest car we own.

At the moment only the 32 and 66 are on road but, when they're in use, all are used fairly regularly for trips from Anglesey to Essex, the New Forest and Devon. All of those are over 700 mile round trips, not including any extra mileage while we're away and they often including towing a camping trailer. In the 33 we've even done Colchester and back in a single day and we suffered far more than the car did!

So suggesting that a basically well maintained 15 year old car shouldn't be trusted more than 10 miles is, frankly, laughable. So much that it kind of questions just how "very good with cars" he really is!

The problem with lots of short trips is that they involve lots of starts for the mileage and the engine never really gets up to working temperature. Just because the temp gauge says "normal" and the heater's working doesn't mean the car is fully warmed up - the oil can still be much colder than ideal.

Every time you start an engine a little extra fuel is put in, which tends to wash the oil away from many of the places you want it. Oil also drains down to the sump in a stopped engine so, when you start, it has to be pumped back up to where it's needed. This should only take a second or so but, for that second, you're effectively running the engine without oil (at least, without oil where it's needed).

Over the life of an engine, most wear takes place in those seconds after a fresh start. Short journeys mean lots of starts, so lots of chances for wear compared to a long run.

Oil tends to collect moisture and acid compounds created during combustion. Both of these are harmful to the engine but both will evaporate off if the oil's heated up properly and kept hot for long enough. on short trips that never happens, so the engine suffers.

You also build up carbon in the cylinders and head on short trips. Over time the carbn can cause all sorts of problems like sticking injectors, poor combustion, burnt valves and so on. Regular long runs help to protect against these by burning the carbon off.

306chris

Chickabiddybex wrote: »

Well I'm assuming the hole in the exhaust is due to rust and in turn due to being only driven short distance. Also when I open up the oil cap there is gooey yellow stuff at the top. I assume this is also a by-product of short journeys however I can't be sure it isn't caused by something else until I've had it a while or had it looked at professionally.

No idea why the oil leaks though. I assume a hole, don't know the cause. Rust? I'm having it looked at professionally tomorrow or Thursday so with a bit of luck they'll be able to tell me exactly what the dealio is and stick on a plaster :P

I got the highest possible breakdown coverage I could (with AXA) so it isn't the end of the world if I break down far away from home. I just don't want to plan a trip somewhere and have my day ruined due to a break down.

I'm just paranoid because this is my first car and I'm still learning.
I'm going on a half hour journey down the motorway on Saturday and I'm just worried it won't make it. I'm pretty scared about the prospect of breaking down on the motorway! So dangerous.

You sound like me after I first learnt to drive. I was the first in our house to drive (even before mum and dad) and I had an 82 997cc fiesta and I remember taking down the M6 for the first time I was worried but it was sound and I had breakdown cover.

I reckon your car could do with a flush out and an oil change and then take it for a nice drive just be sensible and dont rag the car about. It wont necesarily (sp?) need doing before you make your journey though.

Chickabiddybex

Well, I got a professional to take a look at it, the middle section of the exhaust needs replacing and the oil leak is caused by the rubber seal at the top hardening up. He's not looked super thoroughly but he will do on Friday when he sorts it all out. I'm getting a quote tomorrow, I dunno if anyone can guess roughly how much it would cost?

Ad86

As others have said, doing short runs in a car does it no good at all.
Most wear occurs on short trips, with a cold engine and oil.

SteveJW

Chickabiddybex wrote: »

I got the highest possible breakdown coverage I could (with AXA) so it isn't the end of the world if I break down far away from home. I just don't want to plan a trip somewhere and have my day ruined due to a break down.

Check you are covered, some companies do not cover cars over a certain age, also some expect to see the service book stamped up to date.

Short journeys kill engines, yes this is the accepted norm, does it happen in practice.
My 1996 Mazda 323f is kept outside, for the last eight years it has been used once a week for a journey of three miles, once a month for a round trip of twenty miles, four hour stop after ten miles, couple of times a year a 100 mile blast down the M62 to Manchester airport
Starts first time, only ever let me down once when the battery was u/s
By the accepted reasoning, engine should be shot and it shouldn't start

Mind you the sons car was off the road last week so he borrowed it, guess he gave it a good blast out

As this is Money Saving, it must be uneconomical for me to run a car, but it's here when I want it

Geodark

Dukesy wrote: »

The advice not to take a car on long trips occasionally is absolute rubbish. All cars benefit from a blummin' good, long drive every now and then. Both of my 'daily drivers' are more than twenty years old and I wouldn't hesitate to drive them long distance.

On a 'modern' car, until the damage done by only ever driving short distance sets in, you don't really tend to notice the problems it can cause. I have a 1934 Austin 7 though, and when I take that for a long drive (100 miles plus), you REALLY notice how much good it's done the car - it drives better for weeks afterwards.

Aye, the old Italian Tune-Up. Definitely agree with you on this - they all need a good blast every now and then.

Chickabiddybex

Got quoted for:
New gasket
New middle section of exhaust
Replacing rubber seal around oil tank
All parts and labor and VAT included
Roughly £100

Does that sound about right? I have no idea lol!